Caulking tool



F. E. ALLEN CAULKING TOOL Sept. 4, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1953 INVENTOR.

FRANCIS E-AL.L.EN BY .:..-&-

ATTOR NEYS p 4, 1956 F. E. ALLEN 2,761,199

CAULKING TOOL Filed Nov. 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 50 a v F R A NCIS E AL. I... EN

A-r TORNEYS F. E. ALLEN CAULKING TOOL Sept. 4, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 27, 1953 INVIENTOR.

F-RANQls E.Au l EN ATTORNEYS 2,761,199 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 2,761,199 CAULKING TOOL Francis E. Allen, San Leandro, Calif. Application November 27, 1953, Serial No. 394,562 8 Claims. (Cl. 29-235) The present invention relates to improvements in a caulking tool. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool that may be used with facility and ease for rapidly inserting caulking strips into grooves, or the like formed between adjacent members, to produce weatherproof joints. Moreover, it is proposed to arrange the tool in such amanner that the caulking strip may be placed in the grooves at a predetermined depth, producing a neat-appearing caulked joint.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a wheeled tool that may be advanced along a groove, while at the same time feeding a caulking strip into the groove under a uniform pressure. The tool includes a pair of spaced-apart discs, which are adapted to be partially inserted into a groove so as to bear against opposing walls of the latter and serve to guide the strip into final position. As the tool is advanced, the caulking strip is fed between these discs into the groove to the desired depth, without stretching the strip. All of these steps are carried out in a continuous operation, with the minimum of effort on the part of the individual concerned.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features will be set forthv in the claims hereunto appended.

DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view taken through facing panels of abuilding, which define a groove therebetween, which has been caulked with the improved tool;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my caulking tool, illustrating the tool being utilized for caulking a groove;

. ,1 Figure 3-is a transverse sectional view taken along vertical plane III,-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the same tool;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a combined guide and disc-spreader forming part of the tool shown .in Figures 2-4; t Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a caulked groove disposed between corner-forming wall members;

t Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a-second embodiment of the tool, as observed from the plane VII-VII of Figure 8, and illustrating this tool being used for caulking a groove of the type shown in Figure 6;

. Figure 8 is a transverse sect onal view taken along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

-j Figure 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the caulking tool; Y v a v Figure 10 discloses a groove disposed between two flat members after being sealed with a modified caulking strip; i

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a third embodithe ment of the tool being used for caulking a groove of the type shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional the line XII-XII of Figure 11;

H Figure 13 is a top plan view of the third form of tool;

Figures 14 and 15 are enlarged sectional views taken along the planes XIV-XIV and XV-XV, respectively, of Figure 11.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First embodiment For the purpose of illustration, I have shown a fragmentary portion of a facing for a building in Figure 1, of the type shown in my United States Patent No. 2,649,172, granted August 18, 1953.

In this disclosure, a hanger 10 is secured to a wall 11 view taken along by a nail 12, or other suitable fastening means, and has a slot 14 disposed to receive an edge portion 1 of an L-shaped flange 15 on a panel A. Also, a clip 16 is provided on the hanger so as to extend through a slot 17 formed in a flange 18 of a second facing panel B. As thus supported, the two panels define a groove C therebetween which has been sealed by a caulking strip D to provide a weatherproof joint.

It will be noted that this caulking strip is interposed between and bears against the flange 15 and 18, which border the groove C. The tool for inserting the strip D is shown in Figures 2-5. Of course, diflerent types of yielding caulking may be used, such as rubber, oakum, plastic and copper, having various shapes .in cross-section. As illustrated, the caulking strip D is tubular and fashioned from rubber.

than the discs.

Turning now to the details of the first embodiment of the caulking tool, it will be seen that I have provided an operating handle 19, which supports a shaft 20 projecting laterally from one side thereof. This shaft has a pair of resilient discs 21-21 rotatably mounted thereon in spaced-apart relation with one an to the circumferential groove 23 for delivering of the circumferential groove 23,

caulking strip D thereinto. This guide is carried by the handle 19 and is fashioned with a bore 24 through which the caulking strip is fed. v

In order to facilitate the entry of the strip D into the I have provided a spreader designated generally at 25, forming part of the guide E in the present disclosure. This spreader includes a pair of fingers 26-26, which are disposed on opposite sides of the bore 24 and engage with the discs 21-21 adjacent the guide to flex marginal portions 21a-21a of the discs away from one another, as the discs are rotated (see Figure 4). This will provide an enlarged space between the discs through which the caulking strip D may pass, as the strip is advanced from the guide E into the groove I posing sides so that it may enter the groove Cwith ease;

and, of course, as the tool is advanced the strip will be released from the discs and expand so as to firmly engage with the flanges 15 and 18, as shown in Figure 1.

The depth to which the discs 21-21 may be inserted into the groove C is dependent upon the diameters of a pair of traction wheels 27-27, which are carried by the shaft 20, and ride upon the faces 28-28 of the panels A-B. These wheels have diameters less than that of the discs. Obviously, the sizes of the wheels 27-27 and the spacer-washer 22 may be varied so as to regulate the depth to which the caulking strip D is placed in the groove C.

It is preferable that the discs 21-21, spacer-washer 22 and wheels 27-27 rotate as a unit, and that no slippage be permitted between the wheels and the panels A-B as the tool is advanced. For this reason, I have shown a key 29 interconnecting the discs, washers and wheels (see Figure 3), although they may be caused to turn together by friction created therebetween, when a nut 30 is tightened on the shaft 20. Tires 31-31 have been provided on the rims of the wheels so as to grip the faces 28-28 of the panels to thereby cause them to turn with advancement of the tool over the panels. Thus the caulkingstrip D is inserted into place without stretching it, since the peripheral speed of the traction wheels will be the same as that of the lineal speed of the tool. A finger guard 32 has been provided over the tops of the discs to protectthe operator.

The use of the firstembodiment of my caulking tool is summarized briefly as follows:

Initially a section of the caulking strip D is inserted into thebore 24 of the guide E and drawn through the enlarged space provided between the outwardly-flexed marginal portions 21a-21a of the discs 21-21 so as to pass through the lower part of the circumferential groove 23. The discs will compress the strip slightly so that it will fit the groove C readily. The forward end 33 of the caulking strip is anchored between the flanges 15 and 18 by being pressed down into the groove C, and the underneath sections of the discs 21-21 are introduced into this groove until the tires 31-31 abut the faces 28-28 of the panels A-B.

Now the operator grasps the handle 19 and advances the entire toolinthe direction of the arrow 34 (see FigureZ), whilemaintaining the tires 31-31 in engagement with the panels A-B. This will result in laying the caulking strip D in the groove C to the desired depth. As the discs 21-21 are rotated, the fingers 26-26 on the spreader 25 will hold marginal portions 21a-21a of the discs flexed away from one another, thus facilitating the caulking stripbeing drawn from the guide E into a posi tionbetween-these discs. When aparticular marginal por tion of a disc clears the finger 26, it will spring back into the plane of the remainder of the disc, due to the resilient character of the material from which the discs are made.

Second embodiment Referring to Figurev 6, corner-forming wall members F and G have been shown as having a space or groove H provided therebetween, which has been scaled by a caulking strip] The second embodiment of my tool, as

illustrated in Figures 7-9, is adapted for laying the strip J-into the space between these members.

In this embodiment, an operating handle 35 supportsa, shaft36 in which a single traction wheel 37 is mounted. This wheel has a tire 38thereon adapted to ride over the face 39-of the member F, in contact therewith, as the tool delivers the caulking strip J to the space H. The handle hasbeen fashioned with an offset grip 35"in order thatitapart relation with each other and supported on the shaft 36. As in-the first form, a spacer-washer 42 encircles thisshaft and is interposed between the two discs. This washer has. a smaller diameter than the discs. Thewasher and discs define a circumferential groove 43, which is located to receive the caulking strip J as it emerges from a bore 44 of a guide K carried by the handle 35. The Wheel 37 has a smaller diameter than the discs so that the latter may extend into the groove or space H, as in Figure 8.

It will be observed that the outer disc 41 is maintained flat and has an unobstructed and exposed face 41' arranged to butt against the wall member G. However, the guide K includes a spreader 45 provided with a finger 46 arranged toflex a marginal portion 40 of the disc 40 away from the other disc. This will provide an enlarged space between the two discs through which the caulking strip I may pass to the circumferential groove 43.

In Figure 8, the shaft 36 has been shown as being a flat-head screw, in which its head 36 is countersunk into the outer disc 41 and the spacer-washer 42, thereby allowing this disc to abut the wall member G. Screws 47 may be used for securing the disc 41 to the spacerwasher. Moreover, a key 48 has been provided to cause the'traction Wheel 37, the discs 40-41, and the washer 42 to turn as a unit. The handle 37 is disposed laterally beyond the disc 40, and the wheel 37 is arranged between this disc and the handle. For the purpose of protecting the operator, a finger guard 49 has been secured to the guide K to overlie the discs.

When using this form of a tool, the caulking strip I is inserted into the bore 44 of the guide K and pulled through an underneath portion of the circumferential groove 43. The discs 40-41 serve to compress the caulking strip I somewhat so that it will fit into the groove or space H without difiiculty. Now a forward end 50 of the strip is anchored between the walls of the groove H and the discs pressed downwardly between the walled members F-G until the traction wheel 37 abuts the member F, as in Figure 8. The disc 41 is positioned against the member G. When the tool is advanced in the direction of the arrow 51 in Figure 7, the caulking strip will be laid in the groove or space H, without stretching the strip.

Third embodiment As shown in Figure 10, a modified form of a resilient caulking strip has been designated at L. This strip provides a seal over a space or groove M provided between two spaced-apart wall members N-N. In its structural details, the strip L is somewhat T-shaped in transverse section, defining a bulbous stem 52 adapted to be inserted. into the groove M. The upper transverse part of the strip provides marginal flanges 53-53 forming a roof-like structure overlying the wall members.

The tool for applying this type of a caulking strip is shown in Figures 11-15. It is identical with the tool shown in the first embodiment (Figures 2-5), with the exception; of the shape of the bore 54 in the guide B through which the strip L passes, and a modified form of a spacer-washer 55. Like numerals have been applied to corresponding parts in the first and third embodiments.

The bore 54 through which the caulking strip is advanced defines a shaping die. The transverse outline of the bore-at its entrance end is shown in Figure 14, wherein it will be noted that the bore forms a partial cylinder-54a at its bottom conforming to the exterior surface of the bulbousstem 5 2. Laterally-extending recesses Si4b-54'b" at the upperpart of the bore are arranged to receive the marginal flanges 53-53 of the caulking strip. The partial cylinder 54a extends to the exit end of the bore (see Figure 15). However, the walls of the recesses 5 4b-54b are shaped toprogressively fold the flanges 53-53 upwardly and toward one another, as the strip L is advanced provided between the outwardly-flexed marginal portions 21a;- 2'1aof the discs 21-41. The latter further fold the flanges 53-43 toward one another, as disclosed in Figure 12. At this time the flanges are accommodated in recesses 56-56 provided on opposing sides of the spacer-washer 55. l i

, \As the tool is advanced in th'edirection of the arrow 34 in Figure 11, the flanges 3-53 of the resilient caulking strip L are released and will fold downwardly over the wall members N-N, while the bulbous stem 52 of the strip will be, disposed in the space M. The general use and operation of the third embodiment of the tool are the same as that previously described in connection with the first embodiment. I

Iclaim: I i

I, '1. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip thereinto; and a spreader engaging with at least one of the discs adjacent to the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides of the discs.

2. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip thereinto; a spreader engaging with at least one of the discs adjacent the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides of the discs; and at least one traction wheel carried by the shaft, and having a diameter less than that of the discs, whereby the latter project beyond a rim of the wheel.

3. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip thereinto; a spreader engaging with at least one of the discs adjacent the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides of the discs;

at least one traction wheel carried by the shaft, and having a diameter less than that of the discs, whereby the latter project beyond a rim of the wheel; and means interconnecting the tra-ction wheel with the discs in driving relation, whereby rotation of the wheel will turn the discs.

4. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby;a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip thereinto; and a spreader engaging with at least one of the discs adjacent to the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between thesides of the discs; the handle being disposed laterally beyond one of the discs, and the other disc having an unobstructed outer face.

5. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip therein-to; and a spreader engaging with the discs to flex marginal portions thereof away from each other, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides of the discs.

6. In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacer-washer disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter than the discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of .a caulking strip thereinto; and a spreader engaging at least one of the discs adjacent to the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides of the discs; and means engageable with projecting marginal flanges on the caulking strip to fold these flanges into a predetermined position prior to entry of the flanges intothe space between the discs.

7. In a caulk-ing tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a pair of resilient discs rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced-apart relation with one another; a spacerwasher disposed on the shaft between the discs, and having an annular rim smaller in diameter thanthe discs; the washer and discs coacting to define a circumferential groove encircling the shaft; a guide positioned adjacent to this groove for delivery of a caulking strip therei-nto; and a spreader engaging at least one of the discs adjacent to the guide to flex a marginal portion of this disc away from the other disc, as the discs are rotated, thereby providing an enlarged space between the discs and adjacent to the guide for receiving the caulking strip, thus permitting the strip to be initially received between the discs as portions of the disc peripheries are temporarily spaced further apart, and permitting the strip subsequently to be gripped between the sides: of the discs; and means engageable with projecting marginal flanges on the caulking strip to fold these flanges into a predetermined; position prior to entity" of the flanges intothel-space:

between the discs; thespacer-washer having mecesses extendingcincumferent-ially therearound tow-receive the folded flanges of the: caulking strip.

8.v In a caulking tool: an operating handle having a shaft supported thereby; a caulking strip feeding and applying. wheel rotatable on the shaft and having an annular groove with flexible. side walls; a guide for a flexible caulking strip being carriedby the handle and placed adjacent to the peripheries of the flexible side walls; means for flexing at least a portion of one of the side walls away from the opposed portion of the 'other side wall: for enlarging; the spacing. between the two walls at a pointadjaeent to the guide; whereby the strip will be readily received between the two walls; the two sides of the wheel at a point removed from theguide being adapted 8 to the: stripand to'enter a groove designed to u'ee'e'ive' the "strip; and at least one traction wheel operatively connected to-the stripr feeding and applyingwheel and' eng'age able with asurface anranged-adjacent to the groove for determining the depthat which the flexible side walls of the first wheel will enter the groove, and for Iotating'the:

first wheel fol-causing it to lay the strip in the groove at the desired' depth.

References Cited inth'e file of this patent UNITED" STATES PATENTS l-,54-3,3'3-5- Maise June 23,1925 1,556,234- M-aise -Oct. 6,1925 1,879,440 Olson Sept. 27,.1932 2,358,142 Carlin 'Sept. 12,1944 

